Neighbors feared man accused of Fishtales killing

April 19, 2011|By Mike Clary, Sun Sentinel

FORT LAUDERDALE — A week before Brian Edward Krebs allegedly stabbed to death a well-known musician in a barroom brawl, police were called to his oceanfront apartment by neighbors afraid that the man in No. 908 was dangerously unstable.

An enraged Krebs, 38, all but destroyed his rented condo at Galt Ocean Club, smashing the toilet bowl with a hammer, embedding a butcher knife in the wall, shattering glass tables and tossing a lamp through a window, according to a police report.

The shards of glass that rained down from his window that early morning of April 9 narrowly missed a woman swimming in the pool nine stories below. "He went crazy in the apartment," said condo association president Pio Ieraci.

When Fort Lauderdale police responded to the disturbance call, however, Krebs had fled. Officers made a written property damage report, and one officer even went back later that morning to see if Krebs had returned. Police issued a notice advising officers that Krebs could be dangerous.

But there was no warrant out for Krebs, and he was not charged with a crime.

He did not come to police attention again until 3:30 a.m. Sunday, after squads of officers and emergency units raced to a crime scene inside Fishtales, a North Beach bar and grill just three blocks from Krebs' apartment. There, he was being subdued by bar employees and customers, while nearby, drummer and music promoter Jimmy Pagano, with blood gushing from a throat wound, lay dying on the floor.

On Tuesday police charged Krebs with premeditated murder and four counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after an incident that began when Krebs reacted angrily to his bar tab. After arguing with a bartender, police say, Krebs left Fishtales and then returned to resume the fight with employees — and Pagano.

Krebs struck Pagano "in the throat area with an object," police said. "Witnesses stated they then saw Mr. Pagano fall backwards and a large amount of blood coming from his throat."

Four men — two customers and two bar employees — were cut while subduing Krebs. He was in custody but still getting treated for his injuries Tuesday at Broward General Medical Center.

On a business website, Krebs lists his job title as CEO and owner of Oncology & Biotech Recruiting. Efforts to reach his relatives were unsuccessful.

Those who knew Krebs said he was troubled. Luis Desousa, who owns the apartment Krebs rented for $1,350 a month, said his tenant was on "heavy medication" to control mood swings.

"I told him that he could not mix his medication with alcohol," said Desousa, of Coral Springs. "He's actually a nice guy. I never thought he would be aggressive."

Even after Krebs trashed the apartment, Desousa admits, he was more than understanding. Although he said he told Krebs he would not renew his yearlong lease in June, he accompanied his tenant to a meeting last Thursday with condo security staff to urge that Krebs be allowed back on the premises.

Krebs confessed to trashing the apartment, telling Desousa he flew into a rage after an acquaintance stole some of his pills.

Krebs offered to pay for the damage, Desousa said, and on Saturday morning the two drove to Home Depot to buy a new toilet. Krebs paid, Desousa said.

But Krebs' neighbors and the condominium association wanted him out immediately.

"He shows up with the owner and a letter from an attorney and says, how dare we not allow him in just because a piece of glass was broken?" said Ieraci, who is also president of the Galt Mile Community Association, representing 15,000 residents.

Ieraci faults Desousa for not evicting Krebs immediately. "I understand being compassionate, but under these circumstances, he should have said, 'I need you to be out of the apartment immediately.' This guy was dangerous."

Ieraci said he does not blame the police. "I think they did their level best with the [legal] constraints they are under."

After his second visit to the apartment on April 9, Sgt. Kevin Finn noted in his report, "I left and notified dispatch of the issues reference Krebbs [sic] and that they should use caution when encountering him."

There will be no funeral for Pagano, according to friend and talent agent Judy Blem.

Rather, she said, she and others in the local music business are planning a memorial concert and setting up a fund to assist one of Pagano's survivors, an autistic son. The date and venue of the concert have not been set.